# The Queen Mum is Dead. Is Charles already King? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 30, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-mum-is-dead-is-charles-already-king/100954 "2002-03-30T20:42:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-mum-is-dead-is-charles-already-king/100954/81 "2002-04-05T19:30:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Markxxx \* > **I read back when the heir had to be legitimate (those wacky royals were apparently FUN). Is this still true** Yes. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Markxxx \* > \*\*Don’t they also have to be Anglican? \*\* Protestant, but not necessarily Anglican ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-mum-is-dead-is-charles-already-king/100954/82 "2002-04-05T20:13:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Wright \* > **The monarchy tends towards traditional names, but only because it’s a traditional institution. Also, when a monarch with a particular name takes the throne, that name gets a general boost in popularity - “Elizabeth” was a pretty obscure Biblical name until Elizabeth I’s time; now it’s a traditional English name. So, no, there is no formal barrier to “Queen Zara”.** To turn the tables (and hijack this thread even further…), wasn’t there a case a few years ago when an English family was forced to change their daughter’s name because they had called her “Princess”? ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-mum-is-dead-is-charles-already-king/100954/83 "2002-04-05T20:55:41Z")
If Zara did somehow become queen, I’d move to England and swear my allegiance. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-mum-is-dead-is-charles-already-king/100954/84 "2002-04-06T01:36:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > \*\*Me thinks someone is a bit disoriented here… \*\* Somebody get kicked out of Hong Kong?😉 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-mum-is-dead-is-charles-already-king/100954/85 "2002-04-06T04:10:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Wright \* > \*\*“Elizabeth” was a pretty obscure Biblical name until Elizabeth I’s time \*\* Um, not quite. After all, her grandmother, the wife of Henry VII was Elizabeth of York. And I believe there may have been a few Elizabeth’s in the family prior to that. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-mum-is-dead-is-charles-already-king/100954/86 "2002-04-06T04:50:12Z")
**dqa,** in response to the hypothetical you suggest, I would give the following answers. First, under the rules governing the reception of English common law and statute law that were in force in the former colonies, the law governing the succession is part of the domestic law of each Commonwealth realm. In particular, the _Act of Settlement, 1701_ would be part of the law of Canada, Australia, and so on, and would govern the succession. So the Commonwealth realms other than the U.K. don’t need to pass any legislation to provide for the succesion - it’s already in force. Second, under the British common law which the other realms have inherited, there is no concept of an “interregnum,” a period in which there is no king. “The King is dead, long live the King!” is an accurate statement of the law. For example, as soon as George VI died, Elizabeth automatically became Queen in all of her realms. The Canadian Parliament didn’t have to pass a resolution recognizing QEII back in 1952, nor take any other formal step. By custom, the new monarch is “proclaimed” in each realm, but that’s simply to identify the royal style and title by which the monarch chooses to be known. For example, Prince David chose the style of Edward VIII, Prince Albert the style of George VI. Third, for the split which you are suggesting to occur, any realm which wanted to change the succession would have to take steps to do so. Failing some such change, Charles would automatically be king on QEII’s death. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-mum-is-dead-is-charles-already-king/100954/87 "2002-04-06T05:19:32Z")
Also-Queen Victoria’s real name was Alexandrina Victoria-she was known as “Drina” as a child. Edward VII’s name was Albert Edward and he went by “Bertie”, as did his grandson, George VI. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-mum-is-dead-is-charles-already-king/100954.md?page=4)